I’m not really a great fan of liquid liners as I simply don’t know how to apply them well but….I know a bad one when I see one.

Finding a great eyeliner to achieve the legendary cat eye is one of my life’s goals. I’m not exactly handy with an eyeliner and mastering the cat eye is something that alludes me. Liquid liner is key that much I know so I was hopeful Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo 2-in-1 Glossy Liquid Liner would aid me in my quest for the perfect cat eye.

This has an odd applicator which is made from a thin sponge-like material which has some flex to it. The odd thing is it has a tiny ball at the end…I’m guessing this enables you to create that perfect “flick” towards the end of your cat eye. I admit the promo image puzzles me…I’m not sure I’m understanding what they are getting at with the cut crease application of liner above the lid?! Eh? If you get the reference they are trying to make please share it with me because I’m clueless (see what I mean by clicking here also see below’s image!).

The liner was created to create thicker or thinner lines. My main problem with it is the formula. The formula separates easily and has a very runny, water consistency. I highly recommend shaking it hard a few times prior to application so it blends together well as if you don’t you end up with a separated liner formula (as you can see from the swatch of purple below).

Polished Green and Violet Luster

It does have a glossy, wet look if that’s what you desire but you have to wait a VERY, very, VERY long time for the liner to set due to this type of finish. The thinner, runnier consistency also means the product doesn’t provide the most accurate of lines. Things get mighty messy during application without anything to hold the formula together…it kinda creates willy nilly lines even with the steadiest of hands.

Overall, I think you’d best avoid this one. I tried two colors and both had really difficult to use formulas with longer setting times…! If you don’t typically use liquid liner I’d especially avoid as this isn’t a great place for beginners to start practicing with such a medium.

Too bad; both colors are sooo pretty… I haven’t liked Maybelline liquid liners since they discontinued the Blooming Colors line back in the 80s (best liner *ever*). Have you tried the LORAC liquid liner pen? I find it *very* easy to use, as if using a marker to draw the line, and it sets quickly.

I do a cat eye every day and pretty much consider myself a cat eye connosieur at this point and still I am with you 100% on how much this liner sucks! Way too runny and hard to apply. I find it’s easiest to do winged liner with a felt-tip liner pen. My personal fave is by Stila! It sets really quickly too. 🙂

I’m guessing that promo photo has to do with the Spring runway makeup. Eyes were played up with what People Style Watch called “futuristic deisgns” (Feburay2013, page 117). I’m not so sure I’m bold enough to rock that look, but I am seeing this more and more as Spring fashion hits the market.

The cut crease may be a reference to Mod makeup techniques that girls like Edie Sedgwick and Penelope Tree used. And, like Megan guessed, it’s a clever way of showing the types of lines you can achieve. I think Edie used eyeshadow for the crease tho, its not quite as severe in pictures as Penelope’s.

I agree the colors are great but the consistency is horrible. I;m not good with liquid eyeliners and the girl at the store told me that the “ball” at the end was to make it easier for novices like me who have a hard time making straight lines you can dot them across ( I think one the expensive brands has that too but with 3 little dots) and then connect to get that even line. I continued to shake before applying at it was so watery that it took off some of my eyeshadow towards the bottom. Not a winner for me.

It’s a shame the formula is so bad because the colors are pretty. I’m not very good at applying eyeliner, especially liquid, but the Lorac one mentioned above is amazing. It completely changed my feelings about liquid liner. I just wish it came in more colors!

Do not want soupy liner! I am forever committed to Tarte’s multipleye lash enhancing liquid liner (what a mouthful). It has a brush tip that stays in its point, but it’s nice and flexible so you can vary the thickness by adjusting your pressure as you go – sounds tricky but it makes applying it feel super natural.

I’m always in search of an eyeliner that does that perfect cat eye as well. I find the asian brands do the best job – even the drug stores ones. Although they are so hard to come by where i live (london, uk). The best alternative here i’ve found is the Sensai liquid eyeliner by Kanebo. It expensive – i bought mine in Harrods if thats any clue – but the application is flawless and goes on thin so i can build up for the perfect cat eye.

Bummer about the maybelline liner! I have no idea what they wanted to show with the cut crease liner either haha. If you’re looking for a good liquid eyeliner I love the Dolly Wink (Japanese brand) one. Have you heard of it?

Aww, that sucks to hear about the formula. The green shade looked pretty. :/ Oh, and by the way, you don’t have to use liquid liner to get a cat eye! This video shows how you can do it with a gel or cream liner: http://www.lisaeldridge.com/video/1744/signature-kitten-flick-eyeliner/ I know you’re always busy, but take a look! It’s helpful and super easy to follow. 🙂

This would definitely be a no-go for anyone who has less than perfectly smooth skin on the lids. I tried the Milani Eye Tech Liquid Liner awhile ago, and the formula was really thin. After applying, I watched in horror as the liner feathered out and seeped into every tiny line on my lids. NOT an attractive look!

Hey Muse and TGIF! I bought this eyeliner in Violet and Navy last week (it was buy one get one half otherwise I would have puchased just violent) and hadn’t tried it. Then I read all the less than glowing reviews and made a point of using it today. Now I am pretty comfortable with applying liquid liners, and I kinda liked the ball at the end of the applicator. I found it kept the line steady. Yes, it was a bit watery but once it dried down, it was a nice opaque deep blue and hasn’t budged. My one complaint was that it did get in my lashes and scrunched them together. I used a lash comb to separate so no harm, no foul. I don’t think I would repurchase but i definitely will use it.

hey miss christina! TGIF! any good plans for the weekend? It’s supposed to be lovely weather ;-D I’m happy to hear you had good success with!!!!!!! I had the same issue with it getting in my lashes as well. I’m a klutz with liquid liner so this watery formulation was sadly a fail for me…my hand just wasn’t steady enough and it ran everywhere during application 🙁 I’m just happy to hear a success story though ;-D

Thanks for the quick response I am always glad to hear from you. No plans for the weekend but I am planning on a trip to Harmon’s at lunch today! I hope you are feeling better and do get out and enjoy the spring-like weather.

I’m always glad to hear from you too 🙂 lol! bad bad bad girl! pssttt tell me what they have ;-D hehe! I feel great this week, thank goodness! cough is gone, nose is clear and def can’t wait to enjoy the weekend. Kinda cold now so looking forward to all the warm weather tell us we will be getting. Have a SUPER weekend! And I hope you score at Harmons 🙂

I have a 20% off Bed Bath & Beyond coupon which I can use at Harmon’s AND Harmon’s is having its clearance sales. Some of those items were marked down already at Walgreen’s and CVS but as you know Harmon’s does have different product lines. As long as I don’t start sounding like some kind of cosmetic product blog stalker, I will be sure to let you know if there is anything worth picking up.

I would assume the “cut crease” look is just that: an optional look- kind of reminds me of Updated Sixties Mod look or something. I’m with you on the cateye technique- cannot do this and would love to. I bet it just takes so much practice: it took me a good year to get comfortable with applying false lashes- it took me probably longer to blend well. It’s just practice here, too! Now you’ve made me want to go get it … xoxo Beth in Pgh 😉 PS- these really do look crummy. Good call.

I had to add to my previous comments about this eyeliner because, having used it for 4 days in a row now, I love it. As I had mentioned before, the ball at the tip actually makes it easier for me to draw a smooth line. It probably doesn’t hurt that I’m good with applying liquid liner, but I’ve even gotten past the clumping lashes issue and can apply a clean line. Best part is that once it’s on, it does last all day without have to touch up. I don’t know if it’s an issue with the colors varying in quality, but so far the Navy is a winner. When I try the Violet, I’ll be sure to let you know. Thanks for listening, Muse!

I’m HAPPY to hear it Christina! It was such a fail for me always nice to hear that it works. It’s soo so so runny so def not for n00bs like me. I can’t apply liquid liner for my life!!!!!!!!! I’m glad to hear it is working out great for you though ;D!

You, my dear, are far from a n00b. Your makeup always looks lovely, and I was admiring how beautiful the NYC eyeshadows look on you in today’s post (although I am passing up on them because I will never put anything made in China on my skin — they do not regulate lead in their products at all). I’ve just been working with liquid eyeliners for so long since there were no nice pencils or gel liners when I was learning how to use makeup. But I do prefer the mechanical pencils and gels for quick, easier application.

Muse, I had to let you know that, after my success with this eyeliner in Navy, my experience with Violet was much closer to yours. I don’t know how a different color can alter the formula of essentially the same product, but this was the case. In fact, it was an even more of a failure because the Violet eyeliner irriated my eyes and that is not acceptable. Maybe it’s something unique to Maybelline since variations in product can happen even with my favorite product, the Color Tattoos.

see I didn’t try the navy christina I wonder if the violet and the green had crummy formulas compared to the navy Hmmmm!!! quality control! :-/ You’ve made me VERY curious about the navy now! I might just pick it up to try…!

For what it’s worth, I do like the product in Navy, but I wouldn’t repurchase, and IMO I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not a fan of liquid liners. Also point of reference: I found the Milani liquid liners (the ones with the brush, not the pens) and LA Splash liquid liners harder to work with.

i unfortunately picked this up today i was just curious about it to try it out, ive learn the error of my mistake >.<, i have shaky hands due to my tremors so i hope i dont feel worst about picking this up. i think ill stay with that stilleto felt tip eyeliner from now on. and i really was lookin forward to the teal color, cause i thought it was pretty T^T. anyways loved ure review. thank you 🙂 always nice to hear about makeup from other ppl 😀

I tried this eyeliner for several reasons out of all the other drugstore brands available:
1. I needed an eyeliner that didn’t have a really pointy or hard brush
2. That would have great staying power on my greasy lids
3. That I could draw a sharp cat eye with
4. That was hopefully easy to remove

I tried it in black and have been using it everyday for the last 3 weeks. It’s actually pretty fantastic for me. The formula does get caught in my eyelashes, but a minor problem. With only light brushing with a wet cotton swab, the eyeliner comes right off in chunks at the end of the day. Yet it stays as a straight solid line without smudging the entire day, even when I tear up from yawning or nap with it on. The brush takes some getting used to, but i no longer feel like I have to drag sandpaper across my sensitive lids.

Hoping to try it in different colors, though i suppose the lighter colors seem to have a more watery formula.